The Appearance Of Impropriety
We all have moments in life when we are caught doing something seemingly inappropriate when in fact our motives and actions may be as pure as the wind driven snow.
Case in point, a few months ago I was driving to work in heavy traffic on a rather brisk, windy day. Vehicles of all kinds were were vying for the right to their immediate, finite stretch of road. I was minding my own business, eyes in front, never veering left or right for more than a moment. Suddenly I could see it in the distance. It fluttered in the breeze at the random command of opposing, sudden wind currents. A rather large, plastic bag had found its way into the rush hour jet stream of traffic. There was no way to predict where it would land or how it would attach itself, but I knew it was destined for my windshield.
Naturally it snagged itself most inconveniently at the inside edge of the windshield wiper. It was large enough to cause a visual impairment as I continued to meander through a dense army of traffic. I use that word by conscience choice as traffic is quite often militaristic. The goal appears to consist of a continual cycle of strategy, implementation of said, successful overtaking and subsequent enjoyment and gloating of conquering your "opponent". But that's for a different story. This one continues in a brief moment of chaos and panic as I open my window and reach for the obstruction. It's random jerking and fluttering about make it nearly impossible to grasp. Keeping one hand on the wheel with my wits about me, I finally nab it. It struggles to escape my grasp and I pull it towards the window. Oops, upon a brief lapse in coordinated effort, away she flies into motion. Oh well, at least now I can see without distraction.
What came next was quite unexpected and unique. I notice a vehicle on my left approaching quickly from behind. My head turns towards the direction of the driver. It is a middle aged lady who is staring me down in a highly, unpleasant manner. Her index finger is pointed in my direction, shaking briskly in a reform school manner. I get it now. She thinks that I threw trash out my window....which in fact was not mine at all! Perception is everything, and she had perceived falsely. So what was I to do? Bundled between cars while navigating through a sea of rear bumpers, there was little I could do. I had been tried and convicted by a jury of ill-conceived perception.
Awkward! Moments like this happen in everyday life for most people but for some reason this one stuck with me. Lesson for all of us: Get all the facts before condemning your neighbor. Even then, perhaps giving grace in return will diffuse the situation altogether!
Jim